A lowly orphan, destined to be the greatest Empress. With her Forbidden romance to the Crown Prince , Atia must navigate the palace's complex web of politics and intrigue from a humble beginning but nothing is as it seems, and even her allies may have hidden agendas. Will she fulfill her destiny, or be consumed by the palace's power games? ************************* ✿EXCERPT✿⁠  Stop, you criminal" one of the guards yelled, his voice booming through the market. The crowd gasped and scattered out of the way, but an elderly man was too slow to move and was knocked to the ground by the fleeing thief. Atia saw what was happening and reacted on instinct, sticking out her foot and tripping the criminal. He fell hard to the ground, landing with a thud. The guards closed in, grabbing the Criminal by the arms and hauling him to his feet. "Are you alright?" Atia asked the elderly man, as she and Delia went to help him to his feet. One of the guards led the criminal away while the second guard, looking so fitting and dashing in his blue uniform, a handsome man with dark hair and strong features, approached Atia, a concerned look on his face. "Are you alright, Miss?" he asked, his voice gentle and reassuring. Atia's mouth dropped open and she felt her cheeks flush. She was tongue-tied, unable to respond to the guard's question. All she could do was stare at him, her eyes wide and her heart pounding in her chest. He was so handsome, and so kind, and she felt like she was lost in a dream. The guard looked at her quizzically, and she realized she hadn't responded to his question but couldn't find her composure . Michael, seeing Atia's befuddled state, reached out and gently closed her mouth for her, his eyes twinkling with amusement. Delia giggled, covering her mouth with her hand. The guard's smile widened, showing off his perfectly white teeth and rakish chin dimples.